Cookie-cutter retail? Time to rethink what our shopping centres should be

Suburban malls are increasingly dominated by global chains, as local businesses that gave them their charm disappear. It's more than just a shopping problem.

- Joyce Lim

Walk into any suburban mall in Singapore and you might feel a sense of deja vu.

Whether it's Tampines Mall, Nex or Jem, the experience is nearly identical: Uniqlo, Cotton On, Giordano, Mango, a handful of bubble tea chains, and the ever-present McDonald's.

With more suburban malls getting into the cookie-cutter mix, increasingly filling their spaces with similar global brands, it leaves little room for local businesses that offer unique and personalised experiences.

While such brands may bring in steady revenue, they often lack the local charm and individuality that make suburban malls special, risking the erosion of the character and cultural ties that once made them integral to their communities.

Take Parkway Parade. When it officially opened in 1984, many of its tenants were first-time shop owners who established businesses that grew alongside their customer base.

Mr Tang F.Y. started Pavilion Optics & Contact Lens Centre, Mr Peter Koh founded The Lens Men, and Mr Patrick Chong's father started Yuen Loong Watch Store.

Their businesses thrived over the years, and some of them expanded and opened branches in other suburban malls.

The Lens Men relocated to a nearby HDB block after the mall's manager Lendlease raised its rent in December 2019.

The others continue to operate their first and only shops at Parkway Parade.

These businesses have developed a deep connection with their customers over four decades, and survive on providing personalised services.

In an interview with The Straits Times in February for a news story on the mall's tenants, Mr Chong told my colleague and me that Yuen Loong stays afloat by repairing and restoring watches — something that online retailers simply don't do.

Another tenant at the mall, Mr Lim Cho Kheng, was only 23 years old when he set up Princess Jewellery in 1986.